Beth-shemesh
Beth-shemesh (Hebrews: בֵּית שֶׁמֶשׁ) means “House of the Sun,” a name associated with the worship of the sun god Shamash.[1] Most prominently, it referred to a town on the northwestern border of Judah near Philistia, but there were also other cities with the same name, such as an idolatrous city in Egypt.
Name
The name Beth-shemesh is composed of the Hebrew word shemesh (שֶׁמֶשׁ), meaning “sun,” and beth (בַּיִת), meaning “house (of).” In the ancient Near Eastern world, sun worship was widespread, and in Mesopotamia the sun god was called Shamash. The place name Beth-shemesh shows that sun worship was also practiced in the land of Canaan.[2]
Beth-shemesh of the Shephelah (Lowland of Judah)
Location
Beth-shemesh was situated about 24 kilometers west of Jerusalem. Although it originally belonged to the territory of the tribe of Judah, it was later assigned to the Levites. The city lay near Judah’s northwestern border with Philistia, positioned between Zorah and Timnah.[3][4]
Biblical History
- Period of Joshua: After Israel conquered Canaan, Beth-shemesh was given to the descendants of Aaron the priest.[5][6]
- Period of the Judges: When Israel was defeated in battle against the Philistines, the ark of the covenant was captured. Afterward, the Philistines suffered God’s plagues and sent the ark back to the border town of Beth-shemesh. However, many people of Beth-shemesh died as punishment because they looked into the ark irreverently.
Then the cows went straight up toward Beth Shemesh, keeping on the road and lowing all the way; they did not turn to the right or to the left. The rulers of the Philistines followed them as far as the border of Beth Shemesh. Now the people of Beth Shemesh were harvesting their wheat in the valley, and when they looked up and saw the ark [of the covenant], they rejoiced at the sight. . . . But God struck down some of the inhabitants of Beth Shemesh, putting seventy of them to death because they looked into the ark of the LORD. The people mourned because of the heavy blow the LORD had dealt them. And the people of Beth Shemesh asked, “Who can stand in the presence of the LORD, this holy God? To whom will the ark go up from here?” Then they sent messengers to the people of Kiriath Jearim, saying, “The Philistines have returned the ark of the LORD. Come down and take it up to your town.”
- After this, the ark was moved to the house of Abinadab in Kiriath-jearim.
- Period of the United Monarchy: Beth-shemesh was designated as one of the principal cities within the second of Solomon’s twelve administrative districts.[7]
- Period of the Divided Monarchy: King Joash of the Northern Kingdom of Israel fought against King Amaziah of the Southern Kingdom of Judah at Beth-shemesh. Amaziah was defeated and taken captive.[8][9] Later, during the reign of King Ahaz of Judah, Beth-shemesh was captured by Philistine invaders.[10]
Beth-shemesh of Egypt
In addition to the Beth-shemesh near Philistia, there was also an Egyptian city known as a major center of sun worship. This Beth-shemesh, located in the Nile Delta, was the city of Heliopolis (Greek: Ἡλίου πόλις),[11] meaning “City of the Sun.” At this site stood the remains of a great sun temple built by Amenhotep I (Greek: Amenophis I).[12] The prophet Jeremiah foretold God’s judgment against this Egyptian Beth-shemesh:
He shall break also the images of Bethshemesh, that is in the land of Egypt; and the houses of the gods of the Egyptians shall he burn with fire.
Other Beth-shemeshes
- Beth-shemesh of Issachar: Located within the territory of the tribe of Issachar,[13] near the Jordan River south of the Sea of Galilee. It is thought to correspond to modern el-'Abeidiyeh.[1]
- Beth-shemesh of Naphtali: A city belonging to the tribe of Naphtali.[14] However, the tribe of Naphtali did not drive out the Canaanites who lived in that land.[15]
See also
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 Sun, Bible Hub
- ↑ ARK OF THE COVENANT AT BETH SHEMESH, Proof of the Bible
- ↑ "Joshua 15:10".
- ↑ "1 Samuel 6:12".
- ↑ "Joshua 21:13–19".
- ↑ "1 Chronicles 6:57–60".
- ↑ "1 Kings 4:7–10".
- ↑ "2 Kings 14:11–13".
- ↑ "2 Chronicles 25:21–23".
- ↑ "2 Chronicles 28:18–19".
- ↑ On, city of the sun, Egypt | Beth-Shemesh, St-Takla.org
- ↑ Heliopolis, BiblicalTraining.org
- ↑ "Joshua 19:17–23".
- ↑ "Joshua 19:32–39".
- ↑ "Judges 1:32–33".